TOKYO - A chamberlain assigned to the Emperor's household has been dismissed by the Imperial Household Agency after it was discovered the aide had embezzled 3.6 million yen, or roughly 25,000 dollars, from an account used to cover the Imperial Family’s living expenses.
The individual, who is in their 20s, was fired on May 2nd, and the agency has filed a criminal complaint with the Imperial Guard Headquarters on suspicion of theft.
The case came to light in January when a manager responsible for overseeing the household’s private expenses noticed a discrepancy between the cash on hand and the amounts recorded in the official ledger. An internal investigation launched soon after revealed in March that 30,000 yen was unaccounted for. The chamberlain, who had just completed a night shift, admitted to taking the money.
Subsequent investigation revealed that the theft had occurred over a five-month period, beginning in November 2023 and continuing through March 2024. During that time, the chamberlain stole a total of 3.6 million yen. The aide reportedly said the funds were used to cover daily living expenses due to personal financial difficulties. The agency stated that the full amount has since been returned.
As part of the response, the Imperial Household Agency also took disciplinary action against the manager in charge of the account, imposing a one-month salary reduction for failing to catch the discrepancies sooner.
In a public statement, Grand Steward Nishimura Yasuhiko described the chamberlain’s actions as "completely unacceptable and deeply regrettable," especially considering the individual’s role as a public servant entrusted with supporting the Imperial Family. Nishimura apologized to the Emperor, Empress, and the rest of the Imperial Household, expressing deep remorse over the incident.
Source: FNN
